The Absinthe Bar.

So I didn't even realize that Absinthe was legal in Germany... but it is.
So anoutherAmerican and I entered into what turned out to be a very interesting night. We sat down next to a goup of euro rail travelers from Spain and enjoyed the Absinthe of the Week, which was blue in colour and tasted like liquorice. It was nice. :)


I got home close to four in the morning and made sure I didn't leave me apartment. I am sitting at my desk about twenty-four hours later and I have been sleeping for about twenty-three of those hours. I keep having dreams about being back home and having things be different. Different in a way that one, would be a million times better then they are now, and two, would never ever happen. This is alright though. I like simply the act of imagining - it is something that I feel no matter the situation I would do regardless.

Currently, I have woken up theotherAmerican that is crashing on my couch temporarily. I am waiting for something to open so I can get something to eat - I haven't eaten since around 2am yesterday. And I am once again scanning blogs from around that beautiful nation I originate from in order to find something. What, I have no idea. EntertainMeAmerica! I miss you more then you know.

The America Club

We all met yesterday, all of the International Students. Everyone broke up into little groups based on what country they were from.

The American Club consists of four New Yorkers, (two from Cooper Union, two from Hunter,) a girl from Michigan, and me.

Lots of people from Israel. A surpising number of Icelandic girls.

Back in that Internet Cafe,

smoking a Lucky Strike and very bothered at the fact that the 'y' and 'z' keys are switched on a German keyboard - don't even ask about the misc. symbols one uses...

So, the fisrt day of art school in Germany consisted os me running around the building with no teacher, (she is in Dresden,) and no idea where to by supplies. This is okay though. There are no real classes and I asked around about art materials. I am getting used to letting go of all the things that normally would send me into a panic. I can't panic here - there is room for mistakes and everyone is so helpful. I feel so good about this experience already. theKiller was right, I am sad to see August come - and it feels as if it is approaching too quickly already.

My German is getting much much better. Hanging out with my new friend here helps. He corrects me when I am wrong and compliments my efforts. :)

I am lucky. I am a very lucky girl right now.

The highlight of my day was almost bumping into a man at the Kaufhof, (a large shopping complex in Alexanderplatz about ten minutes from my apartment.) I say, 'Entschuldigung,' (Sorry.) He looks at me in and a soft German voice says, 'Nichts passiert...' (Nothing has happened...) He smiles, says something else I couldn't hear, (probably a good thing,) and I smile and keep walking.

Now, he probably is not someone I would ever want to see again, and that is okay. What made me happy was the way he said it and how comforting that he thought nothing but that I was attractive and went on his way. America, you probably think this is silly and that is okay but in that moment I felt truly human.

Ohh,

Just a bit of concern about waking up on time for school tomorrow...

Fun with Germans

I was woken up this afternoon by a phonecall from downstairs. Soft but rapid German streamed through the phone and all I could do in my state was garble out, 'Whaaa?'

I head downstairs and a man is standing there with a package for my neighbor.

'I can sign for this?' I say auf deutsch, now that I have my German back.
'Yes, Yes!'
'Okay....'
Door slams shut.

All Germans understand the words, ok, fuck, shit, and beer. It just proves that men still rule the world. :\

Part Duex

I will be quite blog happy this weekend given that nothing, (I mean nothing,) is open until next Tuesday. They take their Easter holiday very seriously here.
I spent this entire day in bed, not only because it is the most comfortable piece of furnature I have ever known, but also because I had the worst headache of my life and didn't want to move... damn German beer.

My waking hours have been consumed by German Nikelodeon which is much different from the shit back home. It is just like it used to be back in the day, with Ren and Stimpy, Rocko's Modern Life, and the Angry Beavers. Plus, the German is easier to understand on kids shows.

There is one last thing that has continued to bother me. One last stupid thing I never let go from the States. Unfortunatly I can't talk about it only to say that sitting in my apartment is not good for trying to forget it. Next week will be better then this one, and the next easier then that one.

Day Four: Setting In

The flight over the large pond consisted of me sleeping and coughing the whole way. The food sucked, the movie choices sucked worse, but the woman sitting next to me was very patient with my very sick self.

I barely caught my connecting flight in London, but once inside the plane I was disappointed to find that this plane was even smaller and less comfortable. I finally reach Berlin, feeling like total shit at this point, (you see I never let myself rest enough in the States to get over that nasty cold of mine.)

In the taxi, I pull out the piece of paper that HerrDoctor had given me which the address of his apartment. I point to it, say auf deutsch 'I must go here,' and sit back.

My first impression of the city is that the weather is fucking awful. It's just rain and the most depressing skies that ever hung over part of God's green earth. My apartment on the other hand is large and quite nice.

I have spent the past few days figuring everything out. The public transit, the stores, the streets, the school, everything is different - everything smells different, even the cigarettes taste different. They taste better. The food is amazingly good - even quick things at a small cart in the subway, (U-Bahn.) The beer is of course the best.

I spent last night in a bar called Palm Beach which, in order to capture the feeling of south Florida, they go so far as to cover the floor with sand and stuff the restaurant with huge palm trees that scrap the ceiling. All the music is American but you hear not a word of English being spoken - of course. I decided after my first drink that I would be brave and meet people - so I look to my right and ask a gentlemen if he spoke English. I spent the rest of the night drinking and laughing while enjoying very spicy but satisfying German nachos. This is could get used to.

Day One: Travel

I knew that I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight. Instead, after re-packing for the 10th time and dicking around on the computer for hours I enjoyed chatting with theKiller and myMilkMaid about local drama and my travel worries. Just a bit nervous...

It's just me, my old but trusty PowerBookG4, and DirectTV until about 7 or 8 am when my family and I pack everything into the Tahoe and make tracks to Dulles. I fly first to Heathrow and then to Teagle in Berlin. From there, I plan to find my new apartment and hopefully unpack in enough time to go enjoy my first legally purchased vodka tonic at the local German version of a hole in the wall.

I am already tallying the things I will miss:

20+ episodes of Law and Order every day.

TiVo.

All the ladies and gents that are kind enough to hang out with me here in VA.

My little crappy bedroom/attic/hole above my parents garage.

Manning that sexy V-8 engine known as the Tahoe.

My library.


Believe me there is more, I just haven't started missing it yet.

In Closing

I am finishing up packing, or at least attempting to pack and play on the computer at the same time.
Tomorrow is the big day and I can't eat anything. I have my passport and four months worth of toothpaste so I know I am ready, I'm just a little shaky. Wish me luck America, I'll return from Berlin a changed lady hopefully. I just hope I can figure out this whole residency card issue that was brought up by the Consulate in DC. I'm worried about jet lag, and finding my way around. I am worried about being forgotten by all of you here America, and missing you all like crazy the whole time.

Well, instead of dwelling on it I am off to California Pizza Kitchen for a Farewell to the Family/Happy 17 littleBrother meal.

Adieu

Awesome

I am the best at doing things that I severly regret the next day. Could I be more of a fool? I need to get the fuck out of Virginia.

Today is part one of the finish packing experience. Fun. I can hear Mom walking around with labored steps down stairs.

wild Thursday

I have been running this TiVo ragged all day while doing the sickKid thing. The restlessness that usually plauges me has declined to be present in the back of my head today so I have been able to enjoy rotting on the couch while coughing and tearing up from my sore throat.

I went though thousands of people's blog entries looking for entertainment and insight into my fellow American's lives, and I have discovered that I am desperate to connect with you America.

On the other hand I am interested not being such a slave to TiVo and want to be entertained by you.

jailbird-flu

I have a horrify cough and a cannot drink enough theraflu to supress it. 
There is a redeeming quality to being sick though: Law and Order reruns, and sleeping on a comfy couch. 

I'm snug as a bug in a rug.

later

There is beautiful light coming in the sliding glass door this afternoon. I wish I would take the puppy out to the highschool today.

I have spent my day being the restless girl that I knew I would be on a day like this. It makes me wonder how I am going to survive a whole week of 'getting ready' time. I have done laundry, gotten my suitcase organized, got my nails done, dropped off things for the Goodwill, went to Southland, came back from Southland empty handed.

I know what is really bothering me and I know what I want to do about it, but I can't. Instead, I would much rather listen to the churn of the dryer, catch up on the Gilmore Girls, and create probably unreal scenarios about things that will bother me to no end.

Think of tonight, darling. Think of going out and being productivly social. Think of you apartment wanting for you to inhabit it. Think about that beautiful city and that amazing view from the balcony.